Notes From a Woman Trying to Keep Up
A short, confused guide to teen slang, “67,” and my sustained bewilderment
I got to spend a few weeks and more time than usual around my Aussie Man™ and our combined kid crew, whose average age is 20. Which meant I was fully immersed in live, unfiltered teen and just-past-teen language, whether I asked for it or not.
This is part two. Apparently the first one hit harder than I realized because I still get DMs about it. Grown women asking me to explain words they heard in their own homes. Men admitting they Googled slang and still felt lost.
So here we are again. Same confusion. Same commitment to trying. New words. Same sustained bewilderment.
I try to stay current. I really do. I listen. I observe. I nod like context is happening.
And then a teenager (or… what the entire fuck… an adult) says “67” with full confidence and walks away, leaving me questioning language, numbers, and my place in society.
Below is our short guide to the newest slang, written by someone who is based… and permanently a step behind!
Based
A stamp of approval for someone who says the real thing without flinching. Unbothered. Somehow correct. No checking the room. High praise. Rare energy. No ick or try-hard detected.
67
No explanation. No origin story. Just a number dropped with authority. My confusion is sustained. Even more confusing is watching grown-ass adults start using it with the same confidence, as if we all agreed on the meaning in a meeting I clearly missed.
Gyatt
An exclamation. A reaction. Usually loud. I do not love it, but I understand it enough to feel uneasy.
Skull
Not death. Means laughing but emotionally finished. This one feels earned.
NPC (non-player character)
A person with no original thought. Efficient. Brutal. Slightly alarming.
Delulu
Delusional, but with hope. Dream big. Ignore facts. Honestly relatable.
Ate / Ate that
You did well. You succeeded. You left no crumbs. Clear. Decisive. I respect it.
Bussin
Extremely good. Usually food. Occasionally confusing when applied to humans.
Touch grass
A suggestion to log off and rejoin the physical world. Rude. Fair. Necessary.
BONUS: That’s loud
A critique of behavior that’s performative, unnecessary, or doing too much… giving “you could have kept this to yourself” energy.
In conclusion: I’m still stuck on “67.” If that makes me a NPC, fine. Drop the slang I need to know before Part Three. This post is based… for real!
#RGG, #RealGirlsGuidetoMidlife, #TeenSlang #WTFis67 #Gyatt #NPC
We’ve earned every wrinkle. Might as well make more laugh lines together.
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Oh god, I know nothing. I may have heard these come out of my daughter’s mouth, but assumed I had miss heard. Learnt the meaning of ‘tea’ only a few weeks ago. And I just looked up sixty seven, instead of six seven 😩apparently 6 7 was last years most popular new word- which makes absolutely no sense on many levels.. Off to ‘touch grass’ !
Love it! I *think* I may finally have a handle on "rizz" but I'm sure my boys would tell you I'm still an NPC too. :) Your graphics always delight me!